From entryways to kitchens to hallways, high-traffic areas of your home need doors that are durable. Balancing that necessary functionality with a pleasing aesthetic is important when creating a beautiful space that also endures the hustle and bustle of daily use. Keep reading for a few tips on choosing the right door for the busiest spots in your house.
Tip #1: Get in the Swing of Things
When choosing a door, you need to think through the space first and foremost. Which way will the door swing? Is there room for a door to swing? There’s no hard and fast rule that spells out which direction you must choose, but most homeowners have a door swing inward into a room. This will impact the type of door you can have, as well as where the hardware and hinges will be placed.
RELATED READ: Which Way Should Interior Doors Swing?
Tip #2: Put Practicality First
Think of the way you will use the space. Bifold doors, pocket doors, and barn doors offer a fair amount of versatility and may be a good fit for you. Although convenient and often lower cost, these types of doors are often not the smartest, longest-lasting choice for a busy zone. It all depends on how you and your family use the space.
While pocket doors and barn doors are savvy, space-saving solutions for areas in which a door swing is not feasible, they also may take an extra second or two to close and open. If a room requires a fair amount of quick in-and-out, factor in whether the people in your home will take the extra few seconds to close it gently. Although useful in tight spaces, these types of sliding doors may be damaged if they’re frequently pushed into or slammed.
Tip #3: Materials Matter
Many of our bestselling interior doors are made from veneered engineered solid core pine wood. The inner core is made of hardwood in a cross grain pattern bonded together under heat, pressure and glue. The result is a stronger product that limits cracking and splitting of the wood material. This type of construction enhances the door’s durability and boosts its sound insulation—both of which are important to areas that are highly trafficked. Additionally, we carry a range of beautiful wood species, including mahogany, maple, cherry and red oak.
Unlike solid wood interior doors, hollow core doors do not have a filling, so they're easy to damage. Although hollow core doors may seem like an appealing option because they are lightweight and more affordable, you tend to get what you pay for as far as longevity goes. Hollow core doors simply lack the durability and premium quality of solid core doors, and your investment into new doors will not go as far.
RELATED READ: Why You Should Buy Solid Wood Interior Doors and Not Hollow Core
Selecting the best doors for high traffic areas in your home involves a blend of practicality and aesthetics. By considering factors like space, door swing, family use, material durability, and design, you’re setting your home up for optimal function and a lasting choice. Whether you opt for sleek sliding doors or classic hinged ones, we have what you need. Take a look through all of our doors and find the style best suited to your space!